Performance of biomarkers metallothionein and ethoxyresorufin O-deethylase in aquatic environments: A meta-analytic approach

Abstract

The preservation of natural environments guarantees the conservation of biodiversity and ecosystem processes. Biomonitoring programs in preserved sites can be carried out using molecular biomarkers, which reflect possible stresses that exist in the monitored location. The metallothionein (MT) proteins and isoenzyme Cytochrome P4501A (CYP4501A) are among the most used biomarkers and reflect the detoxification of metal and organic xenobiotics, respectively. This study aimed to assess the performance of these biomarkers in natural aquatic environments using a meta-analytic approach. The data search was conducted in ISI Web of Science™, considering papers published until August 2016. Studies included in this research needed to compare reference or control sites and sites under stress and be conducted in situ. In general, both biomarkers were useful when comparing control sites with sites under stress. Moreover, when the data were categorized into groups of organisms, mainly bivalves and fishes, there were differences between the groups and between the monitored environments, marine or freshwater. The use of these biomarkers in fish is suitable for freshwater environments, and bivalves are suitable for marine environments. We concluded that the concomitant use of vertebrate and invertebrate bioindicators is useful to develop an effective biomonitoring program and to avoid biases due the physiology of the selected bioindicator.

Hepatic oxidative stress, DNA damage and apoptosis in adult zebrafish following sub‐chronic exposure to BDE‐47 and BDE‐153

“…38 CYP4501A, a CYP450 subfamily, is known to be associated and/or induced by organic pollutants, and the catalytic activity of EROD has been used as biomarker. 39 Significant studies have indicated that EROD as a highly sensitive indicator of environmental insults in fish, and increased EROD activity indicates detoxification catalyzed by CYP4501A. 40 Our study revealed a monotonic decrease in a concentration-dependent following BDE-47 at 3 days.…”

“…The liver is a sensitive organ to environmental toxicants and plays a vital role in the biotransformation of xenobiotics into more excreted forms through receptor‐mediated cytochrome P450 dependency 38 . CYP4501A, a CYP450 subfamily, is known to be associated and/or induced by organic pollutants, and the catalytic activity of EROD has been used as biomarker 39 . Significant studies have indicated that EROD as a highly sensitive indicator of environmental insults in fish, and increased EROD activity indicates detoxification catalyzed by CYP4501A 40 .…”

Performance of Metallothionein Biomarker from <i>Sulcospira testudinaria</i> to Assess Heavy Metal Pollution in the Brantas River Watershed, Indonesia

“…[McCarthy and Shugart, 1990] and can be used to measure hazardous chemical or environmental stress exposure [Paustenbach and Galbraith, 2006]. Among biomarkers, molecular biomarkers are linked to physiological characteristics found in stressful situations [Livingstone, 1993;Fabrin et al, 2018]. Sentinel species can therefore be regarded as bioindicators in both aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems [Hodkinson and Jackson, 2005].…”

“…The importance of molecular biomarker tests is that they reveal early changes in biological processes as a result of pollution exposure [van der Oost et al, 2003]. Furthermore, because pollutants may be conveyed by the river, the identification of these materials by typical chemical studies may be difficult, since the untreated effluent is the main source of pollution in aquatic ecosystems [Fabrin et al, 2018]. Bioindicator species are often connected to a specific contaminant [Livingstone, 1993], which can be indicative of an ecosystem's overall health.…”

“…Metallothioneins (MTs) are widely-used molecular biomarkers associated with metal pollution [Fabrin et al, 2018]. MTs are metal-binding proteins with a low molecular mass and a high level of cysteine [Kaegi and Schaeffer, 1988].…”